Browsing by Author "Gyaban-Mensah, A."

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Child Neglect and Psychological Wellbeing in Adolescents: An Exploratory Study in the Tema Metropolitan Assembly in Ghana
(University of Ghana, 2015-12) Gyaban-Mensah, A.; Amankwah-Poku, M.; Doku, P. N.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology
The study explored child neglect and its impact on the psychological wellbeing of adolescents in the Tema Metropolitan Assembly of the Greater Accra Region in Ghana. The study was done in two parts using the exploratory sequential mixed method design (study 1-qualitative study and study 2-quantitative study). In study 1, 16 purposively and conveniently sampled participants made up of 5 DOVVSU officials (key informants), 5 parents and 6 adolescents were interviewed to obtain their knowledge and views on child neglect in a Ghanaian setting. Findings from the interviews indicated that the understanding of child neglect among the studied sample were similar to other documented studies. Overall, they viewed child neglect as a function of parental omissions in the care of their children. However, one striking concept that stood out was that fathers or men were identified as the most perpetuators of child neglect. Participants’ responses on the physical presentation of child neglect were further categorised and used in the development of a 29 item culture specific child neglect scale named the Child Neglect Questionnaire (CNQ). In study two, 172 conveniently sampled adolescents completed a survey questionnaire assessing the impact of child neglect on their psychological wellbeing. Five main hypotheses were tested. A significant relationship was found between scores on the child neglect questionnaire and scores on depression, self-esteem and quality of life. Results on effects of child neglect showed that adolescents who experienced child neglect reported poor psychological health (high depression and low self-esteem) and poor quality of life compared to adolescents who do not experience child neglect. Three extra hypotheses were developed and tested using the Person’s Moment Product Correlation to help validate the CNQ. Results supported the psychometric properties of the newly developed scale. Finally, a Principal Component Analysis was carried out to determine the various key factors that made up the CNQ. The PCA outcome indicated two main components (ie. Negligence and Care). Implications of findings are discussed in the study.
Coping strategies and resilience among patients with hypertension in Ghana
(Frontiers in Psychology, 2023) Boima, V.; Yorke, E.; Ganu, V.; Gyaban-Mensah, A.; Ekem-Ferguson, G.; Kretchy, I.A.; Mate-Kole, C.C.
Background: Hypertension is associated with high morbidity and mortality and this has been linked to poor treatment and control rates. To optimize drug treatment, patient-centered strategies such as coping, resilience, and adherence to medication may improve control rates and decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension. This study, therefore, assessed coping skills and resilience among patients with hypertension in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. 224 consented patients with a diagnosis of hypertension were consecutively selected from the outpatient clinic. Questionnaires comprising socio-demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, Adult Resilience Measure, and the Africultural Coping Systems Inventory were administered. Data were analyzed using Stata version 16.1 and significance level was set at p-value of ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 62.03 ± 11.40 years and the majority were female (63%). The overall coping strategy mean score was 43.13 ± 13.57. For resilience, median relational and personal resilience (PR) scores were 32 (IQR-7) and 39 (IQR-9), respectively. Increased systolic BP significantly increases the overall coping strategy score. Collective coping strategy and systolic BP significantly increased coping scores (95%CI = 0.05–3.69 vs. 95%CI = 0.58–5.31). Overall coping strategy significantly increased personal and relational resilience (RR) domain scores by 0.004 (95%CI = 0.002–0.01) and 0.005 (95%CI = 0.003–0.006) units, respectively. This study demonstrated that Cognitive and emotional debriefing coping strategy was mostly used by patients with hypertension. Conclusion: Coping strategies had a positive and significant correlation with personal and RR, specifically collective and cognitive debriefing had a significant positive association with resilience among study participants. There is a need to actively put in measures that can improve the coping strategies and resilience among patients with hypertension to adjust to the long-term nature of the illness and treatment as this will promote better treatment outcomes.
Health-seeking behaviour, referral patterns and associated factors among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Ghana: A cross-sectional mixed method study
(PLOS ONE, 2022) Amissah-Arthur, M-B.; Gyaban-Mensah, A.; Boima, V.; Yorke, E.; Dey, D.; Ganu, V.; Mate-Kole, C.
Background Challenges exist in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune rheumatic diseases in low and middle income countries due to factors, such as poverty and under-resourced healthcare infrastructure. Furthermore, other contributory factors such as societal, cultural and religious practices influence health seeking behaviour which has a bearing on access and delivery of healthcare. Objectives To examine the health seeking behaviour and referral patterns of Ghanaian patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and assess the associated factors that influence these. Method A cross-sectional study using an explanatory sequential mixed method design was carried out in a Rheumatology clinic at a national referral centre. 110 participants were purposively recruited for the quantitative phase. The qualitative phase comprised 10 participants for indepth interviews and 10 participants for a focus group discussion. Analysis using descriptive statistics, t-tests and logistic regression models were performed. Transcripts generated from the interviews and focused group discussion were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Median duration from onset of symptoms until seeking help was 1 week (IQR = 12); from seeking help until obtaining a final diagnosis was 12 months (IQR = 33). Multiple factors determined the choice of first facility visited, X2 (12, N = 107) = 32.29, p = .001. Only twenty-one participants (19.6%) had knowledge of their disease prior to diagnosis. Education predicted prior knowledge [OR = 2.6 (95% CI = .66–10.12), p < .021]. Unemployed participants had increased odds of seeking help after a month compared to those who were employed [Odds ratio = 2.60 (95% CI = 1.14–5.90), p = .02]. Knowledge of autoimmune rheumatic diseases was low with multiple causative factors such as biomedical, environmental and spiritual causes determining where patients accessed care. Forty (36.4%) participants utilised complementary and alternative treatment options. Conclusion We observed that knowledge about autoimmune rheumatic diseases among Ghanaian patients was low. Patients sought help from numerous medical facilities, traditional healers and prayer camps often contributing to a delay in diagnosis for most patients. This was influenced by individual perceptions, cultural beliefs and socioeconomic status. Active awareness and educational programmes for the public and healthcare workers are required, as well as strategic planning to integrate the biomedical and traditional care services to enable earlier presentation, accurate diagnosis and better clinical outcomes for the patients.